In Brief – May 2020

In each issue, we try and cover cases in brief which we were unable to cover in full. Below are the cases covered in brief in Issue 5, May 2020. M (Declaration of Death of Child) [2020] EWCA Civ 164 – Issue was whether the child, Midrar, was legally dead…

Legal Immunity in the Covid-19 Pandemic?

It was reported over the weekend of 18-19 April 2020 that the Medical Defence Union (“MDU”), which provides legal support to around 200,000 doctors, was calling for a debate on the need for emergency legislation to protect doctors from negligence claims arising from the COVID-19 emergency.  The particular concerns raised…

Issues in Litigating Informed Consent Claims

Johnstone v NHS Grampian [2019] CSOH 90  This article originally appeared in Issue 4 (March 2020). The Outer House of the Court of Session found that the Pursuer/Claimant (“J”) had given informed consent to the transsphenoidal surgery he underwent and dismissed J’s claim for damages brought against the health authority. …

(Not So) NICE Guidelines?

Sanderson v Guy's and Thomas' NHS Foundation [2020] EWHC 20 (QB)  This article originally appeared in Issue 4 (March 2020). This judgment, delivered by Lambert J on 10 January 2020, is of particular interest for her consideration of the NICE Guidelines and their utility in establishing breach of duty. This specific…

Damned Lies: Risk, Statistical Association and Causation

Clements v Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust [2018] EWHC 2064 AB v East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust [2019] EWHC 3542 (QB)  This article originally appeared in Issue 4 (March 2020). We are all familiar with the challenge of proving that a given breach of duty was causally relevant to injury…

In Brief – March 2020

In each issue, we try and cover cases in brief which we were unable to cover in full. Below are the cases covered in brief in Issue 4, March 2020. Attorney General of St Helena v AB and others (St Helena) [2020] UKPC 1 – Privy Council decision considering whether…

Wrongful Birth

Mordel v Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust [2019] EWHC 2591 (QB)  This article originally appeared in Issue 3 (November 2019). The Claimant succeeded in establishing liability in this unusual wrongful birth claim before Mr Justice Jay.  Background  She alleged that the Defendant’s failure to carry out screening for Down’s syndrome…